Peanut Butter Balls

These are so much more than just peanut butter balls, but I just thought that peanut butter, coconut, date, chia, quinoa and cacao didn’t have the same ring to it? They really are packed full of the good stuff, and make for a healthy little treat that you can feel good about. Harry is still learning how to talk, but it has been interesting with him screaming for ‘pee but balls!!’ at the top of his lungs.

Store them in the fridge or freeze separately to enjoy when you need them.

Nutrition Note: Peanut Butter ‘Power’ Balls also has a nice ring to it – high in protein, carbohydrate, fibre and vitamin C all rolled into one. Plus the 100% cacoa gives these balls an antioxidant boost and a slight hint of the lovely bitterness of chocolate (but without the added sugar from chocolate).

Thanks Jo, love the feedback. Oh a slice sounds great too. I think it depends on the ingredients you use as to the ‘stickiness’ you could always add a teaspoon of honey or maple syrup for that final ‘stick’. I am so glad you enjoyed them. Ax

Made these again today for my 2.5 year old and he loved them. I also love them as did my husband and Father! I added a extra tbsp of peanut butter & some honey to give the mixture a more sticky consistency. I also thought you could roll them in cacao or coconut or crushed nuts for that additional ‘something’ if you wanted to. These will be added to the menu as finger food for parties too – & I don’t just mean the kidlets. Thanks Allie x

Oh I am so glad you said that Anna, I ate half the first batch too. I thought they tasted a bit like a healthy ferrero rocher! I think it depends on the brand of peanut butter you use, but as long as they stuck in the end! Enjoy, Ax

Thanks for the feedback Chloe. I love the idea of puffed brown rice. I made these again and they were sticky enough – strange? But it seems quite a few people have had this problem so I will make a note on the recipe. So happy you all enjoyed them Ax

These were a hit with my little one! She was a bit reluctant to try them at first, but now they are her favourite treat. I added a tiny bit of honey for just a little extra sweetness and stickiness. I’d like to make them with quinoa, but I can’t find quinoa puffs. Any ideas where I should look?

I had the same problem, I doubled the peanut butter, and added some fresh dates that I pitted myself, and still couldn’t make balls. I ended up adding still more peanut butter, dates, and some honey and butter, which finally worked, though they are a bit greasy. I’m thinking the quantity of coconut could be wrong? Or that the dates need to be hand pitted and not pre-pitted (drier) dates?

Hi Emma, thanks for the feedback. You could be onto something with the coconut. I used dried organic flakes and used a processor to process the coconut into fine pieces (have made this several times now without a problem) – if you were using desiccated coconut for instance you would probably use much more. I will try it again using a different coconut and see what happens. Ax

These are delicious. I didn’t have any dates in the house the first time I made them so added prunes instead. Have since made them with dates, both just as yummy. Might try a mix of dates and prunes in the next batch. Also used puffed brown rice. So happy to have discovered your website.

These are little ball of bliss! I had similar trouble with getting the balls to come together. Second time around, I soaked the pitted dates in boiling water for an hour or so before putting them into the food processor. The balls were much better vas I didn’t have to add extra peanut butter.

My two boys love these and so have all their friends that I have introduced them to. I soak the dates in hot water for a few minutes before blitzing them which gives them extra moisture and stickiness. I also make them without the rice bubbles or puffed quinoa -(didn’t have any when I made them). I love the simplicity. Thanks for sharing!

The only thing I would change is the quantity- MORE MORE MORE!!! Oh my word these are good! Ours stuck together fine, & holy moly they’re delicious… & so simple! While I’m at it with the feedback… I love your website & reckon you’ve made me a better Mum (in the food department anyway)! I was so daunted by the task of feeding my ‘fussy’, dairy intolerant daughter, & was so stuck for ideas, but your site started the ball rolling on my now determined & positive approach to preparing delicious & healthy family meals that we all can enjoy together. Thank you! Can’t wait to receive your mag in the post!

These sound awesome but I’d love to send these to school and nuts are now such a no no at most schools so I’m thinking I might try coconut spread. I’ve heard great things about it. Hopefully they will turn out

Hi Tammy, they are very adaptable for you to add ingredients to. Just play around with quantities in the food processor until you have something sticky enough to form into balls. Let us know how you go with the coconut, sounds delicious. Ax

I made these for my nearly 2 year old extremely picky eater. He wolfed them down and was asking for more, nearly unheard of! So relieved to find another recipe to add to my very short list of things E will eat. Thanks so much!

I changed the quantities around a bit and softened the dates in a few tablespoons of boiling water. I also used rolled oats in place of rice bubbles. Made an excellent consistency for rolling into balls and the kids are big fans.

I couldn’t find anything fitting the description of quinoa puffs, but found some rice and quinoa cheerio style cereal which worked well instead. I did find that I needed to use a LOT more peanut butter plus a bit of honey to get these to hold together, but wow they were delicious. Everyone in the family loves them, except the toddler I made them for. He doesn’t like the taste of peanut butter, I think, so I might have to try with another nut butter – will that work instead?

My dates were so dry my food processor wasn’t even chopping them so I was pretty sure I was going to end up with the not-sticky-enough problem other people had. I treated my dates as I do for sticky date pudding- added 1/4 teaspoon of bicarb and 3tbsp of boiling water, then microwaved for 30 seconds. I did add a little extra coconut and rice bubbles at the end and rolled in coconut because they were sticky to touch – Maybe a spoon less of water? Anyway, they mixed up easily and are gobbled down very easily! Will definitely make these again.

Hello, as per other comments I think these are just amazing. I can’t stop eating them. I am not sure whether this has been asked before, but is there any other variation without peanut butter? Not from an allergy point but my daughter doesn’t like peanut butter.
Thanks